From Eric Dondero:

In the 1970s, and well into the 1980s, the Libertarian Defense Caucus was an active group within the Libertarian Party seeking to move the LP towards a more Pro-Defense/Pro-Military stance. There have been one or two attempts since, to re-organize the group. Ryan Christiano of New Jersey started a blog for the LDC. However, he soon got disenchanted with the stridency of the antiwar activists within the Party. Christiano abandoned the LP altogether and joined the Republican Party.

The LDC has been dormant ever since.

This weekend the Libertarian Party held its bi-annual national convention in St. Louis. Longtime Libertarian Party of Washington State member Kevin Bjornson (US Coast Guard Veteran) and an original LDC member from the 1970s was in attendance. Bjornson, myself (US Navy Vet) and Alaska Libertarian Party delegate, and candidate for US Senate David Haase (US Army Vet) met at the Salon on the 2nd floor of the Marriot Renassiance Hotel near the convention floor. We were joined by Libertarian Party of Maine State Chairman Shawn Levasseur (photo - right). Towards the end of the meeting Libertarian Party of New Hampshire Chairman and Seabrook Town Selectman Brandon Kelley (US Army Vet) came over to lend his support. After the meeting Texas candidate for Congress, a Libertarian who is also seeking Republican support Jim Prindle (Disabled US Army Vet, Photo - Far Right) joined the group.

Members in attendance immeditely voted Bjornson Chairman. His tenure will last til the next convention in 2 years. Haase was elected Vice-Chairman. I offered to serve as Secretary/Webmaster, and was voted in for that capacity.

Earlier, Bjornson had spoken with Sam Sloan of the New York LP. And although he had to catch a flight and was unable to attend, Sloan confirmed he wished to be a member of the group, and was enthusiastic that finally a Pro-Defense caucus was being formed in the LP.

Haase expressed to the others in attendance that although he was staunchly pro-military:

"We have a lot of antiwar people and I don't want to alienate them. They have a number of good ideas. Like Korea. We don't have to occupy them."

Haase continued:

"I'm glad to see some opposition to the make love not war crowd. That's my biggest problem with the Libertarian Party. We wouldn't have liberty without war."

Bjornson took an even harder stance:

"We need to have a military that's profitible..."

He went on to explain his views that we need to gain profits from our ventures overseas, including oil.

Bjornson has a unique perspective on foreign policy; one surely to ruffle some feathers among the non-interventionist crowd. He believes that since America liberated Iraq and Afghanistan, American companies like Haliburton and Exxon, should be given ownership of oil reserves and other natural resources in those Nations. He sees this as the only "true libertarian stance."

Haase, Kelly, Levasseur and others did not necessarily agree with this view.

Bjornson resolved, and other members agreed, that support for the War in Afghanistan would be a top priority for the LDC in the near future.

The official website of the Libertarian Defense Caucus:

DefendLiberty.net

DavidforAlaska.com

JimPrindleforCongress.com